System for producing packages of items of a predetermined collective weight

Abstract

A system for collecting items is configured based on the realization that operators for manually moving the items from position bins to packing material can be positioned in only selected areas on both sides of the conveyor, with batch-forming areas being located on each side only at locations opposite the operator area on the opposite side. For instance, a first operator can serve the first two positions from a first side of the conveyor and a second operator can serve the following two positions from the second side of the conveyor and so on. This arrangement leaves free space, e.g., for packing material, for the second operator on the second side of the conveyor opposite the first operator's two positions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for collecting items, the system comprising: 
 means for generating weight data for each said item,    means for directing items to a plurality of positions arranged in at least one row where items are collected in accordance with said weight data to form, at each position, the content for a package with a weight falling within predetermined tolerances of a target weight,    means for operators to manually facilitate the packing process located along said at least one row, and    wherein a plurality of workspaces are provided for said operators on both of opposite sides of said at least one row, and at any given location along said at least one row, there being a workspace on only one side of said at least one row.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for directing items to a plurality of positions includes a two-lane item conveyor with deflector wings, and the positions are bins between said the two lanes.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the means for operators to manually facilitate the packing process include worktables arranged on outer sides of the said two-lane item conveyor.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein presentation trays are provided between the bins and the worktables.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein said trays are shiftable between a filling position, wherein the tray is positioned to receive items collected in a respective one of the bins, and an emptying position, wherein the items received in the tray are transferred onto the worktable.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of directing items to a plurality of positions is a two-lane item conveyor with deflector wings, and the positions are bins arranged on each of outer sides of said two-lane item conveyor.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein the item conveyor is a single conveyor for forwarding the items in two lanes.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein the means for operators to manually facilitate the packing process include worktables arranged on outer sides of the said two-lane item conveyor.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein presentation trays are provided between the bins and the worktables.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for directing items to a plurality of positions includes a single row item conveyor with deflector wings on both sides, and the positions are bins on each side of the conveyor.  
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein the means for operators manually to facilitate the packing process include worktables arranged on sides of the said item conveyor.  
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein presentation trays are provided between the bins and the worktables.  
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the position bins to which the items are directed are multi-compartment bins that contain at least two storage compartments in which items may be collected.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the workspaces are provided adjacent to each bin.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the workspaces are provided adjacent to two consecutively positioned bins.  
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the workspaces are alternately located on each side of the item conveyor.  
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein pairs of adjacent workspaces are alternately located on each side of the item conveyor.  
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein each workspace comprises means for holding a supply of empty packaging material.  
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 18 , wherein packaging material conveyors are provided for supplying packaging material to the holding means at each workspace from at least one common packaging material supply storage.  
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 18 , wherein the packaging material is supplied to the workspace holding means one by one.  
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 18 , wherein the packaging material is supplied to the workspace holding means in small batches.  
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 18 , wherein different types of the packaging material are supplied to the workspaces.  
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 18 , wherein said packaging material is stackable packaging trays.  
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two package conveyors are provided for transferring packages of items away from the workspaces for further processing.  
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein at least two package conveyors are provided on each side of the item conveyor for transferring the packages in opposite directions.  
     
     
         26 . A system according to claims  24 , wherein three package conveyors are provided, and at least one of said three package conveyors is provided with a bend and said one of the conveyors having a package receiving portion and a centrally transfer portion between the two other package conveyors.  
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein deflector means are provided in association with the package conveyors for sorting the packages onto a predetermined one of the package conveyors according to a predetermined package characteristic.